Make ready press



(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 23, i898. F. W. BAUM.

MAKE READY PRESS.

(Application filed Nov. 6, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

INVENTO m: Monms PETERS cc FHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGYON, n. c:v

No. 609,650. Patented Aug. 23 I898.

' F. W. BAUM.

MAKE READY PRESS.

(Application filed Nov. 6, 1897.) v

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

/A/ VENTOH A.- l A r70 i5 rs UNITED STATES- PATENT Price,

FRANK W. BAUM, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE F. WESEL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

MAKE-READY PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,650, dated August 23, 1898.

Application filed November 6,1897. Serial No. 657.660. (No model.)

Presses, of which the following is a specifi cation.

This in vention relates to an improved makei ready press, and is used for making the faces of electrotype-plates perfectly flat, and therefore scarcely any make-read y is necessary, so that printing establishments having an electrotype department can use the improved press at a considerable saving of time and labor; and the invention consists of a makeready press for electrotypes comprising a tilting table, on which the electrotype is placed face downward, a cover providedwith a hurdy-gurdy plate-namely, a plate having a number of projecting teats on its exposed surfacemeans for pressing the cover tightly on the electrotype-plate, so as to render the same perfectly fiat, and means for holding the tilting table and cover in horizontal position and for releasing them, so as to tilt them into upright position for supplying them with cold water for cooling the electrotype-plate.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved make-ready press for electrotypes. Fig. 2 isa vertical longitudinal section showing the parts of the table in position for flattening the electrotype-plate. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, showing the table and cover in position for receiving the cooling-water; and Fig. 4, an enlarged view in section of a portion of the press.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the supportingframe of my improved make-ready press for electrotypes consists of two upright standards A, which are connected by transverse rods. In fork-bearings a at the upper part of the side standards A are supported the trunnions b of a tilting table B, said trunnions being so arranged as to be slightly in front of the transverse center line of the table, so that the table when not supported in horizontal position.

part a transverse rod A, which is provided with an upright stop-pin b, that supports the front part of the table A when the same is The rear part of the table A is provided with lugs d, which are slotted to receive adjustable bearing-pieces d, set in posit-ion by means of screws d so that while the pivot-shaft (1 which extends through lugs d of the cover D, can turn in its bearings it has a slightplay therein. The cover-D is provided at opposite sides with handles h, and both the cover and the table are formed with beveled or flaring lips 61 12 respectively, to provide a pouringmouth when the table and cover are in the position shown in Fig. 3.

The table is provided at opposite sides with uprights B B To the upper end of the upright B is pivoted a cross-head E, which is provided at the center with an interiorlythreaded sleeve for a screw-spindle E, having a hand-wheel E and at its opposite or free end with a hook-shaped portion e, that engages the upper reduced end of the upright B when it is swung in position across the table, as shown in Fig. 2. In the rear part of the supporting-frame is journaled a transverse rod f, which carries an upwardlyextending arm F, recessed at its upper end, and which engages and supports the rear end of the tilting table B when in position as shown in Fig. 2. To the rod f is further applied a hand-lever F, which rests normally on a pin f at the front part of the side standard A.

The cover D is provided at its hinged end with a stop-pin f which abuts against the upper end of the lever F, so as to hold the cover in upright and slightly-inclined positilting beyond this position.

provided with a hurdy-gurdy plate D,which fitsinto a recess of the cover and which is cushioned by rubber packing D interposed between the hurdy-gurdy plate and the cover. The hurdy-gurdy plate is of the Well-known construction and is preferably composed of copper, having a number of projecting teats,

The cover D is leveled ofi carefully, so that a uniform pressure in the same plane is exerted on the electrotype to be flattened in the press.

My improved make-ready press is operated as follows: The electrotype-plate after being pressed on the planing or roughing machine is first heated on a gas-heated table such as is used in all electrotypin g establishments and then placed face downward on the top of the tilting table B, which is then supported in horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, and the cover in upright position. The cross-head E is detached from the upright B and swung alongside of the table, as shown in Fig. 1.- The cover D is then swung in downward direction onto the electrot-ype-plate, the crosshead moved over so as to connect with the upright B, after which the screw-spindle E is turned by the hand-wheel and the cover and the hurdy-gurdy plate in the same firmly pressed onto the electrotype-plate, so that the latter is made perfectly flat by the pressure to which it is subjected by the hurdy-gurdy plate on the table. The heated electrotypeplate is subjected to a gentle pressure for a few seconds, after which the cross-head E is swung back and the lever F is raised, so that the arm F is released from the rear part of the table, when the same, with its cover, tilts slowly into vertical position, as shown in Fig.

3, the tilting being controlled by the handles h, attached to the cover. When the table, with its cover, is in upright position, cold water is poured through mouth d 1) into the space between the table and cover, so that the water passes through the small channels between the teats inthe hurdy-gurdy plate and cools the electrotype-plate, so that it can be removed. This cooling-water is collected inv a drip-pan C, which surrounds the lower part of the supporting-frame of the make-ready press, and is removed from same from time to time. The cooling of the plate gives the metal a set and prevents any springing of the plate when the pressure is released. When small electrotype-plates are subjected to pressure, it is unnecessary to use any water for cooling them, as they cool quick enough by the actionof the air. The operation of making the electrotype-plate ready in the press takes less than a minute, after which the completed plates are taken out of the press, dried, and are finally shaved off at the back by a shaving-machine to the required thickness.

My improved make-ready press forms a ready and convenient press for conveniently flattening electrotype-plates in getting ready for printing, so as to dispense with the timeconsuming make-ready of the plates heretofore required.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The combination of a table, a cover hinged to said table, a hurdy-gurdy plate fixed to the inner face of the cover and provided with a multiplicity of teats on its exposed face, means for pressing the cover toward the table whereby the teats on the hurdy-gurdy plate are pressed against the electroplate, and means for sustaining the table, cover, and hurdy-gurdy plate and electroplate in upright position, so that cooling-water can be caused to flow downwardly betweenthe teats of the hurdy-gurdy plate and along the adjacent surface of the electroplate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, FRANK W. BAUM.

Witnesses:

GEORGE J. HORN, O. D. MONROE. 

